Sunday, July 15, 2012
Zurich knows us well
When we arrived at the Crowne Plaza in Zurich today we were met with a surprise. A nice welcome note from the GM and a box of Swiss chocolate! I knew there was a reason I liked Zurich. 
Saturday, July 14, 2012
Lichterfest
Today was Lichterfest in Stuttgart - a yearly celebration of light. The festival was in a park just outside the center of the city. The brochure was in German, so we really had no idea what the festival was about. We bought tickets anyway - the brochure had a 'Essen und Trinken' advertisement so we figured you could eat and drink well.
The festival had half a dozen different sections, each with a music stage and themed refreshments - international, organic, gastronomy and so on. We ate our way around the park, which included Nurnberger sausages, Currywurst with fries, and Flammkuchen (all very healthy). And, of course a bottle of local wine.
We had had our full of music and food after two hours. As we walked to the train we stopped to hear a couple songs from a young band called Lieber Anders. They covered a bunch of US songs and a few German songs that most of the audience knew (except for us). The light and firework show was scheduled for 10 minutes after the band was done, so we decided to stick around for it.
The show featured lights and pyrotechnics synced to music by Adele, Metallica, Celine Dion and Lady GaGa. It was actually done quite well and I'm glad we stuck around for it. Now it's back to the hotel for a good nights sleep since we're off to Switzerland in the morning.
The festival had half a dozen different sections, each with a music stage and themed refreshments - international, organic, gastronomy and so on. We ate our way around the park, which included Nurnberger sausages, Currywurst with fries, and Flammkuchen (all very healthy). And, of course a bottle of local wine.
We had had our full of music and food after two hours. As we walked to the train we stopped to hear a couple songs from a young band called Lieber Anders. They covered a bunch of US songs and a few German songs that most of the audience knew (except for us). The light and firework show was scheduled for 10 minutes after the band was done, so we decided to stick around for it.
The show featured lights and pyrotechnics synced to music by Adele, Metallica, Celine Dion and Lady GaGa. It was actually done quite well and I'm glad we stuck around for it. Now it's back to the hotel for a good nights sleep since we're off to Switzerland in the morning.
All access tour of German winery
It's incredibly hard to find information on wine tastings and vineyard visits in Stuttgart even though the town is surrounded by hills of vineyards. The tourist office gave us a brochure in German for a walkable wine route east of the city, so we boarded the S-Bahn and set out with a map neither of us could read.
We got off in the quaint town of Untertürkheim. Just at the foot of a hill with large vineyard was a red-brick building of the Weinmanufaktur Untertürkheim. Celebrating its 125 anniversary the wine making company operates like a co-op. Local families harvest their grapes (by hand) and bring them to the 'weingut', the wine making factory as it was translated by the tourist office.
The wine tasting room was gorgeous - later we found out it had just been renovated in honor of the 125th anniversary. We waited in the check-out line to see how the tasting worked. The cashier told us to help ourselves - yes, we were told to taste, at will, any of the over 40 bottles opened. Most of the wines were foreign to us - Trollinger, Lemberger, Spätburgunder, Rivaner - which made the experience more exciting.
We started with the whites, which were quite nice. And as we began tasting the reds we were joined by Sara, an employee of the winery and daughter of a local vineyard owner. She began explaining the difference in the wines and the history of the company.
After a few more samples she offered to take us on a tour of the winery - something they don't normally do. We saw the wine cave (the building used to be owned by Mercedes-Benz and the cave was where financial paperwork was processed) and the pressing room. In the wine cave was their library with a barrel from each year the winery has been open. She told us people will call up and order bottles from the year someone was born or married. This tour could have easily cost $20 in Napa, but it was free and impromptu. Sara said she loved walking us around because she doesn't "get excited helping the local grandpa pick up his wine every weekend." I asked her if many tourists visit the winery and she said no. Stuttgart has no idea the asset they have just a 10 minute ride from the city center.
We purchased two bottles from Sara. They were reasonably priced at €15, but taste like €50 bottles. This excursion was quite unexpected and we'll remember it for a while!
P.S. A four year old child may have been drinking a glass of red wine. Oh, those Europeans.
We got off in the quaint town of Untertürkheim. Just at the foot of a hill with large vineyard was a red-brick building of the Weinmanufaktur Untertürkheim. Celebrating its 125 anniversary the wine making company operates like a co-op. Local families harvest their grapes (by hand) and bring them to the 'weingut', the wine making factory as it was translated by the tourist office.
The wine tasting room was gorgeous - later we found out it had just been renovated in honor of the 125th anniversary. We waited in the check-out line to see how the tasting worked. The cashier told us to help ourselves - yes, we were told to taste, at will, any of the over 40 bottles opened. Most of the wines were foreign to us - Trollinger, Lemberger, Spätburgunder, Rivaner - which made the experience more exciting.
We started with the whites, which were quite nice. And as we began tasting the reds we were joined by Sara, an employee of the winery and daughter of a local vineyard owner. She began explaining the difference in the wines and the history of the company.
After a few more samples she offered to take us on a tour of the winery - something they don't normally do. We saw the wine cave (the building used to be owned by Mercedes-Benz and the cave was where financial paperwork was processed) and the pressing room. In the wine cave was their library with a barrel from each year the winery has been open. She told us people will call up and order bottles from the year someone was born or married. This tour could have easily cost $20 in Napa, but it was free and impromptu. Sara said she loved walking us around because she doesn't "get excited helping the local grandpa pick up his wine every weekend." I asked her if many tourists visit the winery and she said no. Stuttgart has no idea the asset they have just a 10 minute ride from the city center.
We purchased two bottles from Sara. They were reasonably priced at €15, but taste like €50 bottles. This excursion was quite unexpected and we'll remember it for a while!
P.S. A four year old child may have been drinking a glass of red wine. Oh, those Europeans.
Friday, July 13, 2012
Partying in Stuttgart
We left dinner ready to turn in early when we stumbled across the Stuttgarter Sommerfest. It's a few day long summer festival featuring international bands and a ton of international food. A turkish group was performing when we joined the festivities. The smells emanating from the various food stalks was overwhelming. So much so we had to get something to snack on with our .5L of beer for €3. The falafel sandwich was quite good. 
Drinking in the clouds
The Fernsehturm Stuttgart is the world's first TV tower made from concrete. It opened in 1956 and measures 711 feet tall. For only €3 we were able to ride to the top for a breathtaking view of Stuttgart, the suburbs and the distant alps.
One level down from the observation deck was a cafe serving wine, beer and cakes. For €10 we had two afternoon drinks and an apple cake while overlooking the entire city.
One level down from the observation deck was a cafe serving wine, beer and cakes. For €10 we had two afternoon drinks and an apple cake while overlooking the entire city.
Mercedes-Benz museum
Stuttgart is the Detroit of Germany - it's home to Mercedes-Benz and Porsche. Needless to say, our first stop was the Mercedes-Benz museum. Although it was a long S-Bahn ride from the center of town, it was well worth it. Spread across nine floors was the history of the company intertwined with world events. The cars on display were quite awesome, even for a non-car-enthusiast. Highlights included the first cumbustion engine for a car and the newest fuel cell cars.
The museum was well worth the four Euro entrance fee. Definitely a must see for visitors to Stuttgart.
The museum was well worth the four Euro entrance fee. Definitely a must see for visitors to Stuttgart.
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